Tremolo action for organs



Dec. 19, 1922.

GL W. TILL. TREMoLo ACTION FOR RGANs.

FILED FEB.19.1921.

6SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Dec. 19, 1922.

G. w. TILL.

TREMOLO ACTION FOR ORGANS.

FILED FEB. I9. 1921.

6 SHEETSv-SHEEY 3.

Dec. 19, .1922. 1,439,652.

G. W. TILL.

TREMoLo ACTION FOR ORGANS.

FILED FEB. 19, 192|. GSHEETS-SHEET 4.

l\\ Q Q 0-- JX Dec. 19, 1922.

G. W. TILL.

TREMoLo AUoN FOR oBGANs.

FILED FEB. 19. 192'1.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5f l l l l l l l 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6v.

Dec. 19, 1922,

' G. W. TILL.

TREMoLo ACTION FOR oRGANs.

FILED FEB. I9, 192|.

JUVE ted Dec. 19, 1922.

GEORGE W. TILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TREMOLOy ACTION FOR ORGANS.

Application filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,297.

"7 'rofl/vivi may cof/warn:

f it imown that I. timonel: ll'. TILL, a

zen the llnited States, resi-ning in "iladeinhia Pennsylvania. have invented.

tain improi'enients in Tremelo Xctions ot.' which thc tollen'iiig is a ments in pipe organs ot the type having two or distinct organ units and the main object '1 the invention is to provide means whereby the `tremolo actions olf all oii the organ units will beat in unison.

il. Yiiirtiunobject is to provide means whereby the heat ol' the tremolo can he regulate/l at will and a still. further object is tu* three organ lunits and a console and illustrai. ing 1. ints g Fig. il is a plan view ot the console in lottod lines and my improvements in tnll line;

Fi 3 is a side view of the console in dotted lines and illustrating my improvements iny full lines;

4 a plan view showing one of the air engines and the commutator;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5, Fig. 11;

Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the tremolo boxes;

Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the tremolo boxes;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan View on the line 8 8. Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View of the lower portion of one of the tremolo boxes showing the air valve and controlling magnets; y

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing a single motor; and. Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views of details of the invention.

di agrammatically my improve- Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1, 1,

invention relates to certain improvel and 3 are three organ units, such as the great orggjan. choir organ and sivell organ. ln large organs this number may be increased depending upon the size of the organ. 1 is the console having any number ot banks ol keys, stops and combinations, but as this invention only relates to the treniolos and the mechanism tor operating them, l have shown all the other parts in dotted lines.

At each organ Vunitis a tremolo box referred to in Fig. 1, as (l and T. At the console in the present instance are tWo motors 8 and 9. These are shown in the present instancesI as air motors.y as I find that air motors run more evenly than electric or other motors. The motor 9 is shown in detail in Fig. land is made up of a series of bellows l() which actuate a crank shaft 11, adaptedL to bearings 12 on the frame 13 of the mot-or. 14 is the air intake pipe,-and valves 15, which are actuated by the crank sha'i't 11,ope'n and close the exhaust passage 1G leading from the bellows. This is a common form of air motor.

0n the end ot the shatt 11. is a contact drum 1T having in the present instance tour vlshaped Contact plates 18 separated by noiwifonducting material. 19. Fig. 5 and resting on the drum a Contact arm 2t) projecting from a rod Q1 adjustably mounted in a bearing 22 forming a terminal. The rod is hold in position by a screw 21 or other tastijfning` This construction Y(forms a circuit interruptor'.

(ln adjusting the rod the. contact plato 2) can be movedA over the drinn to increase or diminish the length oit contact irrespective ot rthe speed oit the motor. The motors S and 9 alike and each has a circuit interrupter. The contact ot one motor is set near one end ot its drum and the Contact of the other motor is set near the opposite end so that on regulating the speed ot the motors the length ot contact can be varied from one extreme to the other.

The terminal bearing 22 of each motor is connected b v wires rt to a binding post on each treinolo box 5. 6 and 7 and the drum ot each motor is connected vby a Wire Z? through a switch to a battery c which in turn is connected'by Wires d to the other terminal of each tremolo box. A switch e under the control of the organist makes or breaks the circuit of the motor and the switch also 'under the control of the organ# ist inelies or breaks the circuit the motor S) so that the drinn oit either rnotor cen be brought into action or cnt ont` et will.

.l here ehonfn the switches e :ind j esi indo pendent switchesi but they may be ot the interlocking type so that when one switch thrown in the other cannot be thrown in nl' the saine tiine.

The suppl:7 pipes liloit the two motors S and 9 are connected to e ccnnnion pipe 2i lending' troni any Wind chest in order to siipplysnicient oir to drive the motors.. ln cach pipe lt a mein control Volte 25 which otrols the supply oi? nir to the motors. iefsc valves are operated by :i rofl Q6 exlli L the keyboard ot the console, und on the rod are two arms 27 and 2S. The erin 2? is connected by a rod 29 to :in erin on the valve 25 of the. motor S and the erin 28 is connected to an erin on the valve Q5 ot the niotor 9.. and on the opposite end of the rod is :i handle BO which is erro.; ged to travel over e, dial ISL on the cese so es to indi foto to the organist the amount ot openneces in the score to produce certain etects :ini this is eccoinljilished by profiting; bypass pipes 32 which pass around the valves ind in the by-pesi-i pipes are vr,l\.fes 33. it. vertical sooft 341 has en erin 35 connected to the wire et' the inotor 9 by e lint: BO ind en erin 37 is connected by a. long1 rod 88 to loyer 919 which in turn is connected to the valve 33 oit' the motor S. 9., and on the shaft flf-t is in erm 4l() which is actuated by e. rod il ope :Lifted by zi trendle l452.thronfszh :i lever i3. so that when the organist places his toot on the treedle the by-Jess "elves are opened to o. greater or less extent end :in increased :unonnt ot air is supplied to the niotors and thus the speed of the ii'iotors is increased.

in order that the bypess valves may be operated through the lreys. li provide pivoted bers 'which extend crei' the inner ends of the keys of eech benl shown in iggs. 2 and 3 and in such position that by an entre pressure on e key a be will be turned on its pivot eid is n erin 4155 on eac-l1 ber is connected by :i rod 4G to a lever 4i-O on the shaft 2M the shaft will be turned and the by-pass valves will be actuated.

The rnotorsare' driven continuously when the valves 25 ere open, but not connected tothe trernoio boxes until one of the switches e or' is moved to close its circuit, depending` upon which motor it is desired to` use. The organist can increase the tremolo beets insects by either oievingaj his by press' D' dfmfn on i.

rthe mechanism :it erich triroilo bois .z shown clearly in .l-Figys. o

rthe bof; is connected. through o one li with the trunk o't the orgfzin unit to which it is attached. so that it contains nir under presso" :it oil tinies. #lf3 is en oir outlet in thc box oi" s'. tcient size to reopenings duce the pressure in the boi;T and it the if; L9 which closes the openingv is actuated i idly, it will conse e trcinolo in that perticw lair organ unit.

y 1 A.. i. L

in tne present instance the cofi connues, three pneinnitics 5" 'V cl Tl 57 to atmosphere and this by e relire on i stein 59; l trol r" the second onennnitic 52 tends to close t .interior oi" the bello`v atmosphere the r.' A rossore he box f-fli torce the mi e lits i and scot the relire (St) on the insioe of the l rllhe bellows of the pneumatic 52 is conier the und )rino r if; open nected by o. message 6i to en openingY to atmosphere. The mi-eiiiiipY 62 is closed by e valve 35 on n. rod (il controlled by l c pnennietic 5.2 The int eil by it 'fV armature volvetlnit Woon energized the armature vulve will be reisel ott its sont to sillon' nir to l i @nati f 53.

oi': the third pnc torni the the :irnnitnrc Valve referred to in. the claires. inepjnets are connected` through binding` posts 70 to which Wires o' and Z are etteched. the VVT:ilve is under the contro? et the interruptor of the motorswhen one or other ot the switches is closed. y

The nioinent the .rineture valve is opened one otter the other ot the three pneuinetics is actuated., the pneumatic 5l moving the ,large Valve t9 ott ot its sent and .inoinentzirily eliowing a. given qi'lun'ity ot air to escape 'from the chest 50 through the troinolo bei; 5.

ln i and two inotrs are shown and these inotors are located inthe console oi" or 323 and in this; ease the motor will he driven at a given speed and the contact arm may he adjusted to a. position desired and fixed.

fi switch ,y at the console may be provided to open or close the circuit leading from the interruptor to the magnetic valve er valves at the tren'iolo box or boxes. Ithe switch is shown as mounted on the rod 26, in the present instance, In YFact the motor ma); be placed at anyv convenient place and one or more mav be. used and one or more tremolo actions n' i be operated. depending upon the size ot' the organ and the number ot oigan units and the desire 'ot the organist in developino the tremolo action.

In ord .r to prevent the continuous fuptniln;v ofthe tremolo pneumatic, when either o lE the motor vaives is ciosed` l provide the rod 3ft that controls each valve operating mechan..u n with a switch g consisting' oi a cylinder in the present instance having;` a non-conducting,r section 7G and two terminal plates 77 and 7S bearing,r :fuminst the cylinder, as shown in Fig. it. The nonconducting secu tion is :so placed that when the valves are cl sed it is in contact with one of the terminal plates and breaks the rifircuit leading from the interrupter to the magnetic valve. The moment either mechanism is turned to open its valve, the circuit is closed, as the nonconduetinp section leaves the terminal.

l statefil that on operatingT the by-pass valve the tremolo action may be increased in speed, leaving the main valve in the position to which it *as adjusted, but when it is desired to decrease the speed as Well as t-o increase it, then I move the main valve to the closed position and operate the by-pass valve so that it can he moved the full range so as to increase or decrease the speed oi" the tremolo.

While l have illustrated a certain form of pipes, connections, and valves for su pplyng the motors with air, it will be understood that any suitable form ot pipes and valves may be used without departing" from the essential tentures ot the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination in an organ, of a trem olo box; means, in the box, ttor producing a tremolo; a motor; an. interruptor driven by the motor; and a magnetic valve, under the control of the interrupter, actingv to release air from the mechanism in the tremolo box as the interruptor is operated.

2. The combination in an organ, of tremolo box; means, in the box, tor producing a tremolo; a n'iotor; an interrupter driven by the motor; a magnetic valve, under the control of the interrupter, acting to release air from the mechanism in the tremolo box; and a switch, in the electric circuit, located at the console of the orqan for controllingr the tremolo mechanisme t" i cli unit oi' the or n1' ,omnsin tor :.,fztof'tmg anisn'i oi' the several lio.

t, 'the ce Arhinatirm in an oigan, oi a ,'-sf-,rics ot independent oi .n units; a trcmolo box for each organ unn; a motor; an i driven by the motor: and a niaL in cach tremolo boy; controli' i ot air from the tremolo Meehan i f c ie boxes so that the tremoio mechanisms at the several orpjan units will be operated in unison.

The combination in an organ, oi a series of organ un' a tremolo box tor each unit; a motor; an interrupter driven by the motor; a magnet at each box; a iunnlture valve at each magnet arranged to control the escape of air from the tremolo mechanisms ot the boxes; and a sofitcl. in the electric circuit leading Vfrom the inierruptcr to the magnet. said switch beinn located at the console oi the oilcjan.

6. The combimxtion in an organ, of z: treni-- clo box; a nmgnetic valve controlliup,` the exhaust o'l" air troni the box; a motor; an iuterrupter driven by the motor, said nterrupter having; a drum with tapered Contact plates; and a contact armarranged to hear upon the ,gilates, said arm being adjustable over the tace ot the drum, the interrupter being elec :ically connected to the nagg'net of the tremolo box.

.7. rThe combination in an organ, ot a tremolo box; pneunnitic tremolo mechanism in said box; a pneumatic valve contiollineV the exhaust of ir from said pneijimatic mechanism; an air motor; an interrupter driven by the motor and having a drinn and an arm bearing upon the drum, the interrupter being Wired to the magnet; means `ior amplying air to the motor; a valve 'for regulating the supply ot air to the motor; and means, at the console, for controllingY said valve.

8. The combination in an organ, of a. tremolo box; pneumatic mechanism therein; a pneumatic valve controllingr the exhaust of air from the pneumatics; an air motor; an interrupter driven by said motor and having a drum and a contact arm; a pipe for supplying air to the motor; a main valve in the pipe controlling the flow of air through the pipe, means, at the console of the organ, for operating the valve; a by-pass in said pipe; a. valve in said by-pass; and means, also at the console, for controlling the luy-pass valve.

9. The combination in an organ, ot a tremolo box; pneumatic tremolo mechanism in the box; a pneumatic valve controlling said mechanism; an air motor; and interrupter driven by said motor and having a drum and a contact arm, said interrupter being Wired to the pneumatic valve; an air sup- ,that the naive can i'emain open oi closed; a

by-pass in the pipe; a vaine in the bypass; means, at the engen7 contioiiing the bygyass valve so that the organist can momentaiiiy increase the cunt ci? aii delivered to the motel' in oi'dei to change the beat of the tienioic;

l0. @The combination in an crean, of a tiemoio box; pn natie mechanism in the bon; a jjzneumatic vaine conti-chine' the said mechanism; an aii motor; an interruptei' motor and inwing a drum and arm7 said inteiiiuptei and arm being wired to the pneumatic Valve; an supply pipe toi the motoi'; a Valve in said pipe; means, at the conscio of the organ, i'oi opening and ciosing' said vaine and ailanged so that the valve can ieinain open oi closed; a by-pass in the pipeg a Valve in the by pass; means extending` ovei the keys ot the consoie; and means7 at the pedal, ici: actuating the bj/pass naive so as to inciease moiuentaifiiy the amount ot ail' delivered to the mctoi to increase, the beat of the tremolo.

ll. The combination in an organj of a tremoio bcn; a pneumatic tremoio mechanism in the box; a pneumatic Valve con trolling said mechanism; two motors; an interiuptei di'ive-n by each motel'9 the two intei'iiuotei's being' Wired to the pneumatic valve; independent means toi' ieguiafting` the power of each motor; and means for adjustinel each inteiruptei so that the length of the beat oi? the ti'emoio mechanism can be Varied,

12. The combination oi an organ tl'emoio bon; pneumatic mechanism in said bon; a pneumatic. valve controlling said mechanism; a motor; an intei'ruptei driven by said inotoi'7 said inteiiupte being' Wied to the Apneflunatic mine; neans foi' conti@iiinf;` the speedy otl the motor; a console; contioiiing mech: sin at the consoie; and switch mech-- ani sin ici thi'owing said controlling` mecha-- inem Vinto and out oi position in i'espect to the keys.

3. rEhe combination in an oigan7 of a tiemoio bon; pneumatic mechanism theiein; a pneumatic vaine contioiiing` said mechanisin; a motor; an interiuptei driven by the moto-f, said. intei'iuptei' having a dium with ifshapeu contacts; a contact aiin bea-ying upon the difumg aiiid means ioi adjusting` the nace et the drum se as to increase ci diminish the iength oit the beats oi the treinoio.

im The cfimibination in an organ, oif a seri es of oigan units each unit having a tibem elo ben; pneumatic tienioio mechanism in each box; a. magnetic Valve controlling the mechanism at each box; two pneumatic motors; an inteiiuptei di'iven by each motor, said intei'ruptcis bein g' eiectifiealiy connected to the several magnetic. Valves so that, when eithei' et the inteiiupteis is in motion., the magnetic waives will be operated in unison; a switch in each eiect1'ic circuit leadingfrom the intei'i'upteis to the Valves; means conti'oiiing the den' @if an' to the two motoi's; and means toi' regulating the amount of air and im ependentiy controlling moinetaiiiy the How of ail.' te the motois,

Vihe combination in an organ, ot a ti'emoio box; a magnetic waive at the tremoio box; a motor; an interiuptei driven by the inotoi and eiectiicaiiy connected to the magnet of said magnetic naive; means toi contioiiing` the supply ot energy to the motoi; and switch between the interruptor and the magnetic Valve so arranged that, when the motor is stopped, the ciicuit is broken.

GE @BGE W. rliiiLL 

